tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13646212951032074392024-03-14T00:31:45.702-07:00The Vanessa ContessaVanessa Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00637156896992275893noreply@blogger.comBlogger146125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364621295103207439.post-59780322427167910762011-05-25T12:53:00.000-07:002011-05-25T12:59:47.830-07:00<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Dear Faithful Blog Following Friends,</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The time has come, this blog is coming to and end. It will stay up, but won't be posted on any more (because, you know, there's been soooooo much posting in the last year.)</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Never fear. </div><div style="text-align: center;"> Anything I would post there will be post over at </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.vanessaireneblog.com/">www.vanessireneblog.com</a></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3zb84huyisw/Td1e4ceiMfI/AAAAAAAABs8/uOvVT93jcQ4/s400/new%2Bslide.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610745034583454194" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 120px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Check it out. It's gonna be super rad.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">{Vanessa}</div>Vanessa Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00637156896992275893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364621295103207439.post-30926990140919993592009-07-04T09:30:00.000-07:002009-07-04T11:38:17.494-07:00The 4thYesterday, I had a huge soap box planned for today on the blog. All about how much I love the 4th and how much I love America and how I am sick of American citizens and talking heads on TV bagging on our country all the time but not raising a finger to do a darn thing about it. I was then going to go off about how the 4th of July is not a reason to get really really drunk with all your friends and then drive or ruin the holiday for everyone. Then, I got home this morning and my daughter handed me this:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/Sk-MY3X3afI/AAAAAAAABlY/T9CsWysvmew/s1600-h/sc08da630b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 291px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/Sk-MY3X3afI/AAAAAAAABlY/T9CsWysvmew/s400/sc08da630b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354652840775608818" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It's a birthday card she made for America.<br /><br /><br /><br />I cried.<br /><br /><br />Now there's no soap box, just me and my family celebrating the fourth and remembering why we do. During your fun filled day today, I hope your family will take a minute to do the same. Remember why we have this holiday. Remember the men and women who have made this country remarkable. Remember all who we have lost. Remember our responsibility the the rest of the world. Then, remember to have a cupcake.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/Sk-IvyXLvNI/AAAAAAAABlI/oKK7Z9qjnWw/s1600-h/4thcuppie.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 281px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/Sk-IvyXLvNI/AAAAAAAABlI/oKK7Z9qjnWw/s400/4thcuppie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354648836521049298" border="0" /></a>Vanessa Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00637156896992275893noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364621295103207439.post-26846607688351570802009-06-18T12:40:00.000-07:002009-06-18T13:09:03.524-07:00The GIANT Cupcake Cake<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjqbasneKhI/AAAAAAAABko/XwKB0a_mFLI/s1600-h/6birthday49.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjqbasneKhI/AAAAAAAABko/XwKB0a_mFLI/s400/6birthday49.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348758390411504146" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So, for Christmas my mom got me the Wilton giant cupcake pan that pretty much everyone has seen, but I tucked it away and never made anything with it. Then Sydney was turning 6 and I thought AHA! Here's my good excuse. Of course she was thrilled because she loves anything on a giant scale, so a giant cupcake is right up her alley.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjqcDa3_jNI/AAAAAAAABk4/zcKHc9SUOD0/s1600-h/6birthday51.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjqcDa3_jNI/AAAAAAAABk4/zcKHc9SUOD0/s400/6birthday51.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348759090023599314" border="0" /></a><br />I decided to go for a pink and brown sort of scheme, but really I was just wingin' it. Sydney requested chocolate cake on the bottom and cherry chip on top. We went cake mix all the way. The only thing that was going to bug me was that I knew I wanted to layer and frost (being a frosting kinda girl) the bottom half of the cake, but I still wanted it to look smooth and neat and I didn't want to ice the whole cake. THEN I cam across <a href="http://ohsugarcakes.blogspot.com/2009/03/candy-liner-for-giant-cupcake.html">these directions</a> to make a chocolate shell for the bottom from <a href="http://ohsugarcakes.blogspot.com/">Oh Sugar</a>. She states she got the idea from Wilton cake decorating. Either way, go check hers out because it's awesome.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjqcDFvHMwI/AAAAAAAABkw/QAaVK92Pz6k/s1600-h/6birthday50.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjqcDFvHMwI/AAAAAAAABkw/QAaVK92Pz6k/s400/6birthday50.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348759084349207298" border="0" /></a><br />It turned out great! Probably the neatest part of the cake. Then I layered and frosted the rest of the cake and for the top in order to create jumbo sprinkles I just used the Wilton Candy melts, but turned upside down so the perfectly flat side was showing. The little white polka dots are .... yep, you guessed it, white chocolate chips turned upside down. I finished it off with Wilton's jumbo sprinkles, I just picked out the pink ones.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjqcDralMEI/AAAAAAAABlA/LtpyJNMw_Qs/s1600-h/6birthday53.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjqcDralMEI/AAAAAAAABlA/LtpyJNMw_Qs/s400/6birthday53.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348759094463639618" border="0" /></a><br />I had enough cake batter left over to make a dozen cupcakes so I made those up and then frosted and sprinkled. So cute and fun! This pan is a keeper for sure! My one tip is to go low and slow on the cooking time here. I baked this up at 325 for an hour. The cake is moist and did not get over done. My frosting is a bit on the messy side, but I just ran out of time to fuss with it. Sydney was thrilled when it was done, so I figured I could let my OCD go for this one day and have messy frosting.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjqbZtCCkpI/AAAAAAAABkI/cEx5k7ATnyE/s1600-h/6birthday45.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjqbZtCCkpI/AAAAAAAABkI/cEx5k7ATnyE/s400/6birthday45.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348758373343072914" border="0" /></a><br />Oh, and on a side note. Last night at 11 pm I decided to make Sydney her own birthday banner. I have seen all these awesome paper crafters making these amazing birthday banners like <a href="http://myemmiecakes.blogspot.com/2008/10/here-are-couple-of-pictures-of-custom.html">this one</a> and <a href="http://pinkpaislee.com/2009/05/tasty-tuesday-birthday-banner/">this one</a>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjqbaJ24WiI/AAAAAAAABkY/hRRdfpnL79o/s1600-h/6birthday47.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjqbaJ24WiI/AAAAAAAABkY/hRRdfpnL79o/s400/6birthday47.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348758381080893986" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjqbZ5x-yoI/AAAAAAAABkQ/yU6cmUpHGow/s1600-h/6birthday46.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjqbZ5x-yoI/AAAAAAAABkQ/yU6cmUpHGow/s400/6birthday46.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348758376765377154" border="0" /></a><br />So, I made one too. Now, I know mine looks nothing like the examples, but it was 11 at night and I'm not even a scrapbooker, so I have VERY limited paper supplies on hand. Regardless, I think it's pretty cute and Sydney LOVED IT! Not bad for some ribbon a few pieces of cardstock and then whatever embellishments I could scrounge before midnight. I wish I had thought ahead and I would have acutally made a better effort and even made it to match the cake. Oh well. So all you real scrappers, mock me if you must, but I still think it's cute.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/Sjqbaf2t4iI/AAAAAAAABkg/garSXWzOit8/s1600-h/6birthday48.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/Sjqbaf2t4iI/AAAAAAAABkg/garSXWzOit8/s400/6birthday48.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348758386985787938" border="0" /></a>Vanessa Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00637156896992275893noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364621295103207439.post-63411657719615552972009-06-17T17:34:00.000-07:002009-06-17T17:40:50.474-07:00Happy Birthday Sydney!I can't believe it. My little baby is turning 6 tomorrow. I don't know why, but it's hitting me hard this year. I can't believe how fast she's growing up. I really can't get away with calling her baby girl anymore. Right now she's completely sick of me because I've been smooching her face every chance I can get today. I keep telling her I just want to get as many 5 year old kisses as I can. I love this girl. We haven't taken birthday pictures yet, we will sometime in the next few weeks. In the meantime, here's some of my favorites of her from the last six years. <br /><br /><iframe align="center" src="http://www.flickr.com/slideShow/index.gne?group_id=&user_id=26162772@N08&set_id=72157619890028450&text=" frameborder="0" width="500" height="500" scrolling="no"></iframe><br/><small>Created with <a href="http://www.admarket.se" title="Admarket.se">Admarket's</a> <a href="http://flickrslidr.com" title="flickrSLiDR">flickrSLiDR</a>.</small><br /><br />I'll post pictures of the festivities and the cake tomorrow night, but for now, I just wanted to wax nostalgic for a few minutes and sniffle a bit. Happy Birthday, Syd. Your mom loves you more than buttercream.Vanessa Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00637156896992275893noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364621295103207439.post-20808447395810646322009-06-12T10:42:00.000-07:002009-06-12T11:01:44.828-07:00Cupcake VivieIt's no secret. I love this face...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjKWlsP1wDI/AAAAAAAABjI/Xp6sNtvSFDM/s1600-h/cupcakedress35.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjKWlsP1wDI/AAAAAAAABjI/Xp6sNtvSFDM/s400/cupcakedress35.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346501281919123506" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />I love it even when she's trying to be grumpy...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjKWlItNRsI/AAAAAAAABi4/n6cr3Wq4LjU/s1600-h/cupcakedress30.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjKWlItNRsI/AAAAAAAABi4/n6cr3Wq4LjU/s400/cupcakedress30.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346501272378623682" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I love it when she's being a goofball....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjKXWkgOUGI/AAAAAAAABj4/mu6KZspQDpU/s1600-h/cupcakedress40.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjKXWkgOUGI/AAAAAAAABj4/mu6KZspQDpU/s400/cupcakedress40.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346502121653948514" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I love when she's exploring and she has her "interesting" face on...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjKWl5UVXWI/AAAAAAAABjY/9hQWx0mYMuE/s1600-h/cupcakedress39.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjKWl5UVXWI/AAAAAAAABjY/9hQWx0mYMuE/s400/cupcakedress39.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346501285427633506" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjKWl2F_g6I/AAAAAAAABjQ/KSYWm2v7hI0/s1600-h/cupcakedress38.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjKWl2F_g6I/AAAAAAAABjQ/KSYWm2v7hI0/s400/cupcakedress38.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346501284562174882" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I pretty much want to smooch it completely off when she's got the big puppy eyes going..<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjKXWGIpPcI/AAAAAAAABjo/6g86HyRYbPQ/s1600-h/cupcakedress41.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjKXWGIpPcI/AAAAAAAABjo/6g86HyRYbPQ/s400/cupcakedress41.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346502113501986242" border="0" /></a><br /><br />But here's the real secret, I want to smooch her just a little bit more when she's got her cupcake dress on. It's pink and soft and cute and has cupcakes all over and and, well, have you met me?!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjKWlUiuk2I/AAAAAAAABjA/OyTlg9bqLEE/s1600-h/cupcakedress33.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjKWlUiuk2I/AAAAAAAABjA/OyTlg9bqLEE/s400/cupcakedress33.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346501275555894114" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Don't tell her, but when she'll let me put the cupcake dress on her instead of a Dora shirt, there's is sunshine in my soul all day.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjKXWWp4Y9I/AAAAAAAABjw/-4Mmh07cBLg/s1600-h/cupcakedress43.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjKXWWp4Y9I/AAAAAAAABjw/-4Mmh07cBLg/s400/cupcakedress43.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346502117936358354" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />And the bow? Forget about it, it's like the frosting on top.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjKXV88LbWI/AAAAAAAABjg/lyMu-v9ZFd8/s1600-h/cupcakedress44.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjKXV88LbWI/AAAAAAAABjg/lyMu-v9ZFd8/s400/cupcakedress44.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346502111033781602" border="0" /></a><br /><br />You might not believe me, but I'd give up cupcakes for this face. But we have begun to realize she has inherited my sweet tooth, so it's pretty unlikely she'll ask...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjKXW8NHgnI/AAAAAAAABkA/G5acAiapIlk/s1600-h/cupcakedress36.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjKXW8NHgnI/AAAAAAAABkA/G5acAiapIlk/s400/cupcakedress36.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346502128016261746" border="0" /></a>Vanessa Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00637156896992275893noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364621295103207439.post-9373712815141376302009-06-11T15:07:00.001-07:002009-06-11T15:12:42.160-07:00Manna from HeavenI'm pretty sure I could attempt to live on these chips alone. It might not be good for me, but I'm willing to try....<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjGBLyYJjUI/AAAAAAAABio/ElA3EMLk0Cc/s1600-h/IMG_2777.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjGBLyYJjUI/AAAAAAAABio/ElA3EMLk0Cc/s400/IMG_2777.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346196272167095618" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />These aren't bad either....<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjGBMRIiU9I/AAAAAAAABiw/a6EKEPQ_7_A/s1600-h/IMG_2778.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjGBMRIiU9I/AAAAAAAABiw/a6EKEPQ_7_A/s400/IMG_2778.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346196280423109586" border="0" /></a>Vanessa Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00637156896992275893noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364621295103207439.post-30060631956491607372009-06-10T17:22:00.000-07:002009-06-10T17:31:40.772-07:00Cupcake Army<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjBP8XDm13I/AAAAAAAABiA/BtrZgELXGbo/s1600-h/minarmy85.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjBP8XDm13I/AAAAAAAABiA/BtrZgELXGbo/s400/minarmy85.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345860656088668018" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I made 150 mini cupcakes for Sydney's kindergarten graduation party today.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjBP9NRP6CI/AAAAAAAABiY/9fy0NjB5HWg/s1600-h/minarmy88.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjBP9NRP6CI/AAAAAAAABiY/9fy0NjB5HWg/s400/minarmy88.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345860670641399842" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> I made half lemon and half strawberry, both are topped off with vanilla buttercream and rainbow sprinkles.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjBP8-bsNyI/AAAAAAAABiQ/bhH_w1itaTw/s1600-h/minarmy87.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjBP8-bsNyI/AAAAAAAABiQ/bhH_w1itaTw/s400/minarmy87.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345860666658666274" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I figured nothing shouted "Hooray for Kindergarten!!" better than rainbow sprinkles. After they were all done, they were so cute.<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjBP8kx_aRI/AAAAAAAABiI/_wuChnY0Wwo/s1600-h/minarmy86.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SjBP8kx_aRI/AAAAAAAABiI/_wuChnY0Wwo/s400/minarmy86.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345860659772877074" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">It looked like a little cupcake army sitting on my counter. It's a sacrifice, but I'm happy to command it for the greater good.<br /></div>Vanessa Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00637156896992275893noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364621295103207439.post-49945234964717729032009-06-06T17:11:00.000-07:002009-06-06T17:16:14.993-07:00I WON!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SisGx2tcZ1I/AAAAAAAABhw/z2Ji_kEVJZQ/s1600-h/savorywinner.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 208px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SisGx2tcZ1I/AAAAAAAABhw/z2Ji_kEVJZQ/s400/savorywinner.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344372836374701906" border="0" /></a><br />I won! I totally FREAKING won! I'm so excited I could bake cupcakes all day then take them around to everyone I know! Umm.... maybe not. Regardless, thank you so much for all of your votes and your support. (Even the month's when I didn't win and you totally told me I got robbed-- 'cuz that made me wanna bake again the next month.) I'll show off all my neat prizes when they arrive on my doorstep!! Oh, and from now on out, I won't be eligible for the prize pack for winning, but Iron Cupcake is too much fun! Expect entries regardless. And to all my local friends, expect to eat them.Vanessa Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00637156896992275893noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364621295103207439.post-77727069725037647892009-06-01T14:28:00.001-07:002009-06-01T14:53:49.717-07:00Olson Princess Round UpI'm shamefully behind in letting all friends and family know what's going on. So here you go:<br /><br />We had easter and easter dresses:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SiRLaFNg3xI/AAAAAAAABg4/OIu16eLxQho/s1600-h/DSCF0021.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SiRLaFNg3xI/AAAAAAAABg4/OIu16eLxQho/s320/DSCF0021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342477969415790354" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SiRLZ6SRNOI/AAAAAAAABgw/xy8aZGOMtQc/s1600-h/DSCF0020.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SiRLZ6SRNOI/AAAAAAAABgw/xy8aZGOMtQc/s320/DSCF0020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342477966482945250" border="0" /></a><br />Sydney made an awesome Easter bonnet with silk flowes and tissue paper:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SiRL1sPGPZI/AAAAAAAABhI/-P_WW4UgdVs/s1600-h/DSCF0018.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SiRL1sPGPZI/AAAAAAAABhI/-P_WW4UgdVs/s320/DSCF0018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342478443747884434" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />She went on a field trip to the grocery store and got to pet a lobster and be a checker:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SiRL2EKul1I/AAAAAAAABhY/xTK2QaOVyCg/s1600-h/IMG_1285.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SiRL2EKul1I/AAAAAAAABhY/xTK2QaOVyCg/s320/IMG_1285.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342478450172008274" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SiRL1_mT7SI/AAAAAAAABhQ/ggsy-1hvxN0/s1600-h/IMG_1295.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SiRL1_mT7SI/AAAAAAAABhQ/ggsy-1hvxN0/s320/IMG_1295.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342478448945524002" border="0" /></a><br />She even had Hawaiian day at school:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SiRL1eDm3dI/AAAAAAAABhA/lMbTp_yUtvA/s1600-h/IMG_1364.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SiRL1eDm3dI/AAAAAAAABhA/lMbTp_yUtvA/s320/IMG_1364.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342478439941594578" border="0" /></a><br />I ran a 5K the day before Mother's day and Vivie was my cheerleader. This was my first 5k since Vivie was born, so it was a pretty big deal for me. I'm signed up to run a 10k on the fourth of July, so hopefully I'll be ready:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SiRMlk3NUgI/AAAAAAAABhg/s4fRer9FPn4/s1600-h/DSCF0027.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SiRMlk3NUgI/AAAAAAAABhg/s4fRer9FPn4/s320/DSCF0027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342479266402357762" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />And finally, Vivie is just being Vivie. Today she wore this all morning and pretended to trick or treat. Every time she came by my desk I gave her a marshmallow. It was pretty awesome.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SiRMl-mlOjI/AAAAAAAABho/p5zD6BKFMDc/s1600-h/DSCF0036.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SiRMl-mlOjI/AAAAAAAABho/p5zD6BKFMDc/s320/DSCF0036.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342479273311943218" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Coming up this summer: Elementary school talent show (Syd will be singing), kindergarten graduation, swim lessons, days a the beach, a surprise b-day trip to Sea World for Syd (shhh... don't tell) Syd's 6th birthday, the fair (and my first real baking competition entry), girls camp, the (hopefully) 10k, and of course more Vivie being Vivie-- which let's face it, is pretty the most entertaining thing on the list.<br /><br />Happy Summer Everyone! What are your plans?Vanessa Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00637156896992275893noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364621295103207439.post-50393226858238029362009-05-31T09:56:00.001-07:002009-05-31T10:01:42.530-07:00VOTING IS OPEN!!!Voting has opened for the Iron Cupcake:Savory contest this month!<br /><br />Go vote for me! Remember you can vote for up to three entries at a time, so make sure to vote for both of mine. Make sure to check out the other entries, there are some really great ones. The egg roll cupcake is making my brain to back flips!<br /><br />Here's a review of the two I made:<br /><br /><a href="http://vanessacontessa.blogspot.com/2009/05/iron-cupcake-round-two-calzone-cuppie.html">The Calzone Cuppie</a><br /><a href="http://vanessacontessa.blogspot.com/2009/05/iron-cupcake-savory-round-1.html">Cupcake Vera Cruz</a><br /><br /><br />To vote, click on the Iron Cupcake logo on the right -------------------------->>>>>><br /><br />Scroll down to Vanessa Contessa on the right hand side of the voting, click my entries and hit submit!<br /><br />Thanks!Vanessa Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00637156896992275893noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364621295103207439.post-34946122935608329992009-05-31T09:43:00.000-07:002009-05-31T09:55:16.159-07:00Multitasking NightmaresSomething somewhere has gone horribly wrong.<br /><br />I don't know where I made such a wrong turn. It could be that hour I spend playing word drop and mafia wars on facebook. Maybe it's that cumulative 30 minutes I just spend staring at Vivie's dimples and chasing her down for a kiss. Either way, I have officially lost track of using my time wisely throughout the day. This finally occurred to me when by the end of it, we had simply run out. And like a bat to the head, I knew we had entered the multitasking twilight zone when my kids were eating popcicles and taking their evening baths at the same time. <br /><br />We've hit a new all time low here.Vanessa Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00637156896992275893noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364621295103207439.post-24807470233616147242009-05-20T21:43:00.000-07:002009-05-20T22:48:06.600-07:00Iron Cupcake Round Two: The Calzone CuppieAfter I made the first entry for this month's Iron Cupcake:Savory, I just couldn't stop brainstorming ideas. I wanted to come up with some kind of cupcake you really could eat for dinner and get away with it. Then, one morning I woke up from a dream with this cupcake idea. (Yes, that's right, I'm dreaming of cupcakes now. It has become that much of a problem.) The idea was a calzone cupcake. Really it all started when my hubby made cinnamon rolls from scratch (yes you read that right, too.) and let them rise and baked them in my muffin/cupcake tins. We started thinking about all the yeast dough possibilites and finally the calzone cupcake was mentioned. I didn't think any more about it until I had the dream, and then I became a crazy woman obsessed until I made them. So, here it is. Truly a cupcake for dinner:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/ShTpnhMvVnI/AAAAAAAABgI/sn68CSAbK7E/s1600-h/IMG_3331.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/ShTpnhMvVnI/AAAAAAAABgI/sn68CSAbK7E/s320/IMG_3331.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338148323476854386" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Calzone Cuppie<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">(makes 12 )</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><br />Ingredients:<br /><br />1 batch pizza dough***<br />2 cups tomato sauce (prepared or homemade)<br />2 cups mozzerella cheese or italian cheese blend<br />fresh basil (about 12 sprigs)<br />pepperoni<br /><br />12 oz ricotta cheese<br />8 oz cream cheese<br />1/2 tsp salt<br />1/2 tsp minced garlic<br />1/2 cup parmesan cheese<br /><br />***About the pizza dough. Let me digress for a minute. If you can make this from scratch, <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/ShTmJDgc_7I/AAAAAAAABeo/xbl9JkdQDXA/s1600-h/IMG_3291.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/ShTmJDgc_7I/AAAAAAAABeo/xbl9JkdQDXA/s320/IMG_3291.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338144501575516082" border="0" /></a>GREAT! We make ours from scratch and <a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Pizza-Dough-237338">love this recipe.</a> Pizza dough is very simple to make, but is very time consuming. If you are not up to making your own, here are my two favorite suggestions.<br />1. Trader Joes ready made pizza dough. If you have a Trader Joe's in your area. GO GET THIS DOUGH! It's yummy, good, fresh, and a great price. Here it runs $1.29 a package. For this recipe I'd get two packages.<br />2. Find an independent family owned pizzeria in your area and purchase some of their dough. Most of them will let you do this. I was terrified the first time I tried this out and was sure they would laugh me out the door and I would have to leave with the shame and humility of being known as the crazy lady who can't make her own pizza dough. So, when I went, I made sure to get there first thing after they opened hoping to eliminate as many witnesses as possible to my upcoming moment of embarassement. To my shock and amazement, after I asked to purchase some dough, they just ran back to the kitchen, brought me back a bag and asked for five bucks. I was giddy! In fact, I pretty much threw the money at them and ran out before they could change their minds. I've gone countless times since and never once have I been told no or laughed at. So, my suggestion to you is, if you want to make pizza, but not the dough, try this.<br /><br />Okay, back to the recipe.<br /><br />Preheat oven to 450 degrees.<br />Grease or spray muffin tin and set aside.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/ShTmJTsCXmI/AAAAAAAABew/tC4yAT9OS4g/s1600-h/IMG_3293.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 228px; height: 191px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/ShTmJTsCXmI/AAAAAAAABew/tC4yAT9OS4g/s320/IMG_3293.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338144505919069794" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Now for the tricky part, the dough. At first I took my dough and rolled it out onto a well floured surface, planning to cut out perfect circles. For some reason, I just couldn't get it to work. In fact, I was so engrossed in my pizza dough I stopped shooting altogether. Finally, I figured out the best way to do this is to break off handful size pieces of the dough and then roll or stretch these out to the size you need to fill your muffin tin. It doesn't need to be perfect, you will be folding them over onto themselves later to seal them.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/ShTmKPi0MWI/AAAAAAAABfI/_hsLSm75014/s1600-h/IMG_3299.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 143px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/ShTmKPi0MWI/AAAAAAAABfI/_hsLSm75014/s320/IMG_3299.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338144521986519394" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/ShTmJp4vvxI/AAAAAAAABe4/vBH5buxjQSQ/s1600-h/IMG_3294.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 228px; height: 152px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/ShTmJp4vvxI/AAAAAAAABe4/vBH5buxjQSQ/s320/IMG_3294.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338144511877955346" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />When you have stretched your dough, lay them into the muffin tin and place a tablespoon of sauce into the cupped dough. Top with a tablespoon of cheese, a fresh leaf of basil and a pepperoni. Layer with another teaspoon of sauce and then fold the dough over onto itself and seal as best as you can. Repeat with until you have filled the muffin tins.<br /><br />Bake in a 450 degree oven for 10-12 minutes. Cups will become golden brown and some sauce and cheese will escape. Let cool for about 10 minutes. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/ShTnZkGB6NI/AAAAAAAABfY/5dDO3wzDNV4/s1600-h/IMG_3302.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/ShTnZkGB6NI/AAAAAAAABfY/5dDO3wzDNV4/s200/IMG_3302.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338145884712593618" border="0" /></a><br />While baking, prepare the topping. In your mixer, combine ricotta cheese, cream cheese, salt, parmesan and garlic. Beat with paddle mixer for about 2 minutes until well combined and creamy. Place in a pastry bag and pipe onto calzone cups. Garnish with chopped black olives, grape tomatoes and drizzle with more tomato sauce. Serve and enjoy!<br /><div style="text-align: right;"><br /><br /></div>Let me just tell you. These are beyond fantastic. In fact they are be-tastic! These were so delicious and yes, I actually served them for dinner! In fact, all the final pictures I shot while we were about to dig in! Jon said they were the best cupcakes I have ever made! I thought that was pretty funny, considering they are truly streching the definition. Hey, I'll take the compliments anywhere I can get them!!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/ShTpC_uvtKI/AAAAAAAABf4/69i9_Cqxza4/s1600-h/IMG_3341.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/ShTpC_uvtKI/AAAAAAAABf4/69i9_Cqxza4/s200/IMG_3341.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338147696017388706" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/ShTpDIqSriI/AAAAAAAABgA/zOvYkESWlLs/s1600-h/IMG_3351.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/ShTpDIqSriI/AAAAAAAABgA/zOvYkESWlLs/s200/IMG_3351.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338147698414628386" border="0" /></a><br />They got two thumbs up from my girls. Well make that two fingers and two thumbs up. We will make these again and again and I'm actually planning a party now where these are the main course and THEN just to keep everyone even more confused, I'll end the night with a <a href="http://recipes.kaboose.com/dessert-pizza.html">dessert pizza</a>!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Again, the voting will open soon for this month's cupcakes and I'll let you know when to go vote. The winners of Iron Cupcake this month will be awarded with these prizes:<br /><br /><ul><li>A sweet cupcake ID bracelet by INSANEJELLYFISH, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5021935"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5021935</span></a></li><li>something sweet and dangly from CHERRYCREEKCHARMS at <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6686445">http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6686445</a>. </li><li>a sweet surprise from Sweet Cuppin' Cakes Cupcakery,<span style="text-decoration: underline;"> </span><a href="http://www.acupcakery.com/">http://www.acupcakery.com/</a><br /></li><li>PLUS, IronCupcake:Earth can not forget our good friend, CAKESPY, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5243382">http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5243382</a>, who is now going to be doing a piece for our winner each month until further notice - <span style="font-style: italic;">sweet!</span></li></ul>Last and certainly not least, don’t forget our corporate prize providers: HEAD CHEFS by FIESTA PRODUCTS, <a href="http://www.fiestaproducts.com/">http://www.fiestaproducts.com</a>, HELLO CUPCAKE by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson, <a href="http://blog.hellocupcakebook.com/">http://blog.hellocupcakebook.com</a>, JESSIE STEELE APRONS <a href="http://www.jessiesteele.com/">http://www.jessiesteele.com</a>; TASTE OF HOME books, <a href="http://www.tasteofhome.com/">http://www.tasteofhome.com</a>; a t-shirt from UPWITHCUPCAKES.COM <a href="http://www.upwithcupcakes.com/">http://www.upwithcupcakes.com/</a>. Iron Cupcake:Earth is sponsored in part by 1-800-Flowers, <a href="http://www.1800flowers.com/">http://www.1800flowers.com</a> .<br /><br /><br />I hope you like them and don't forget to vote!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/ShTp2ekjzfI/AAAAAAAABgQ/x9YXN-1xG10/s1600-h/IMG_3350.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/ShTp2ekjzfI/AAAAAAAABgQ/x9YXN-1xG10/s320/IMG_3350.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338148580469493234" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/ShTp2tiJZ_I/AAAAAAAABgY/BW5MfZCKnh8/s1600-h/IMG_3337.jpg"> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/ShTp2tiJZ_I/AAAAAAAABgY/BW5MfZCKnh8/s1600-h/IMG_3337.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/ShTp2tiJZ_I/AAAAAAAABgY/BW5MfZCKnh8/s320/IMG_3337.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338148584485906418" border="0" /></a></div>Vanessa Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00637156896992275893noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364621295103207439.post-9313384806758951372009-05-10T17:23:00.001-07:002009-05-10T17:55:13.213-07:00Mother's Day Fairy TaleFor mother's day this year, Sydney (with the help of her daddy) wrote me my very own book. It's so awesome. She made the story up herself and Jon helped her with creating the images and writing some of the longer parts. She even let Vivie help with all the coloring (so if you see crayon anywhere, it's the evil genius contribution.) So read the story of me. Oh yeah, I'm the princess dressed in ALL BLACK in every single picture. See, I told you, awesome.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SgdwTReF1dI/AAAAAAAABcA/ERN1SSwT4ns/s1600-h/1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 303px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SgdwTReF1dI/AAAAAAAABcA/ERN1SSwT4ns/s400/1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334355760053081554" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SgdwTRMnPtI/AAAAAAAABcI/EpaUSFBGKXM/s1600-h/2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 303px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SgdwTRMnPtI/AAAAAAAABcI/EpaUSFBGKXM/s400/2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334355759979773650" border="0" /></a>(That's me, sleeping in a bed made for a giant)<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SgdwTsvbw5I/AAAAAAAABcQ/sOcfTBTT4ok/s1600-h/3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 304px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SgdwTsvbw5I/AAAAAAAABcQ/sOcfTBTT4ok/s400/3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334355767373579154" border="0" /></a>(And that's me about to be trampled by wish granting unicorn)<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SgdwTvTLLNI/AAAAAAAABcY/9FiiBErnaEc/s1600-h/4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 297px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SgdwTvTLLNI/AAAAAAAABcY/9FiiBErnaEc/s400/4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334355768060357842" border="0" /></a>(Um, yeah I do!)<br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SgdwT7HQYLI/AAAAAAAABcg/498TA5DmD_0/s1600-h/5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 307px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SgdwT7HQYLI/AAAAAAAABcg/498TA5DmD_0/s400/5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334355771231592626" border="0" /></a>(hmm...)<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SgdyJES31hI/AAAAAAAABco/3_VAZnkYKck/s1600-h/6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 291px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SgdyJES31hI/AAAAAAAABco/3_VAZnkYKck/s400/6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334357783740929554" border="0" /></a>(Nice book choice. And once again, I totally love my goth dress.)<br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SgdyJaZNYDI/AAAAAAAABcw/QNRxv1gOtbU/s1600-h/7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 294px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SgdyJaZNYDI/AAAAAAAABcw/QNRxv1gOtbU/s400/7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334357789673087026" border="0" /></a>(Look how hot I look in this car!)<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SgdyJnSa_bI/AAAAAAAABc4/P78sktkykdM/s1600-h/8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 290px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SgdyJnSa_bI/AAAAAAAABc4/P78sktkykdM/s400/8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334357793134280114" border="0" /></a>(I totally belong with the Cullens, don't you think?)<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SgdyJ8iSHrI/AAAAAAAABdA/uawKX4XSAN0/s1600-h/9.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SgdyJ8iSHrI/AAAAAAAABdA/uawKX4XSAN0/s400/9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334357798837952178" border="0" /></a>(I look pretty bad-A as a wizard, too. So it's a hard call...)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SgdyKHz2byI/AAAAAAAABdI/_r6icsX35Ps/s1600-h/10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 303px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SgdyKHz2byI/AAAAAAAABdI/_r6icsX35Ps/s400/10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334357801864425250" border="0" /></a>(My chef hat rocks.)<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/Sgd1knAaYPI/AAAAAAAABd4/5NYegSjTa_Y/s1600-h/11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 291px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/Sgd1knAaYPI/AAAAAAAABd4/5NYegSjTa_Y/s400/11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334361555450093810" border="0" /></a>(That's actually about the proportional size of my camera)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/Sgd1kkhEqNI/AAAAAAAABdw/tcYNfK6KMoE/s1600-h/12.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/Sgd1kkhEqNI/AAAAAAAABdw/tcYNfK6KMoE/s400/12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334361554781776082" border="0" /></a>(Yeah, long story...)<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/Sgd1kbJe75I/AAAAAAAABdo/mMnJ-N5JUdo/s1600-h/13.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 304px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/Sgd1kbJe75I/AAAAAAAABdo/mMnJ-N5JUdo/s400/13.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334361552266915730" border="0" /></a>(Awww... and I really like how my goth look is catching.)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/Sgd1kKecxTI/AAAAAAAABdg/zDM4U3IA_q4/s1600-h/14.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 308px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/Sgd1kKecxTI/AAAAAAAABdg/zDM4U3IA_q4/s400/14.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334361547791451442" border="0" /></a><br />It's totally true. They are the best treasure I could ever have.<br />Happy Mother's Day!<br /></div>Vanessa Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00637156896992275893noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364621295103207439.post-31064645610880892752009-05-05T11:36:00.000-07:002009-05-05T15:12:34.494-07:00Iron Cupcake Savory Round 1I must be a glutton for punishment. The last two months I have had either the most votes or the second most votes in the competition, only to not win the prize pack due to random number generation. It makes me further believe that machines are really out to get me. Terminator, anyone? Just kidding! What would you all do without my Iron Cupcake entries? Besides, I need an obsession or I just get snarky.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">No, seriously, even before I knew the outcome I had started working on this cupcake and I <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SgC2bZE7S9I/AAAAAAAABbA/cWJuyPMye1g/s1600-h/veracruz44.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SgC2bZE7S9I/AAAAAAAABbA/cWJuyPMye1g/s200/veracruz44.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332462540510940114" border="0" /></a>knew I would enter it regardless. Iron Cupcake is too much fun! I'm not the only Iron Cupcake baker that was bit by the Cinco de Mayo bug, there's something so satisfying about these type of flavors so I'm not surprised. I wanted sweet and smokey and herby all at the same time, but I also wanted something that would bite back a bit. One thing I knew I ABSOLUTELY had to try was <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/avocado-buttercream-frosting-recipe/index.html">Alton Brown's avocado buttercream recipe</a> (have I ever mentioned my slight obsession with Good Eats?) Anyway, moving on, here's my take on a sweet and savory treat with south of the border flavors.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SgC3Pe9gnhI/AAAAAAAABb4/W7ysHiQrpco/s1600-h/veracruz53.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 330px; height: 220px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SgC3Pe9gnhI/AAAAAAAABb4/W7ysHiQrpco/s400/veracruz53.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332463435443641874" border="0" /><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cupcake Vera Cruz</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A sweet corn and cilantro cupcake with a hot pepper mousse and an avocado buttercream, garnished with a lime wedge red salt crystals.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:180%;" >Cake </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SgC2bt53iNI/AAAAAAAABbI/Hh4RohxrUeo/s1600-h/veracruz45.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SgC2bt53iNI/AAAAAAAABbI/Hh4RohxrUeo/s200/veracruz45.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332462546101700818" border="0" /></a></div>2 cups flour<br />1 cup maseca<br />1/2 cup cornmeal<br />1/2 cup corn kernels fresh or frozen (thawed and dried)<br />2 tsp salt<br />2 TBS plus on Tsp baking powder<br />1 cup sugar<br />1/4 cup honey<br />2 eggs<br />2 cups milk<br />2/3 cup vegetable oil<br />2 TBS chopped fresh cilantro<br />1 tsp vanilla<br /><br />Combine flour, maseca, cornmeal, sugar, salt and baking powder. Mix well. Add eggs, corn, honey, milk, oil and vanilla and mix to combine. Chop cilantro very fine and mix in gently. Line muffin cups with liners and fill 2/3 full with batter. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes. Allow to cool completely.<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:180%;" >Hot Pepper Filling</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SgC2cIwGLZI/AAAAAAAABbY/W7duysKrAT8/s1600-h/veracruz47.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SgC2cIwGLZI/AAAAAAAABbY/W7duysKrAT8/s200/veracruz47.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332462553308474770" border="0" /></a><br />1 cup room temperature cream cheese<br />1 tsp cumin<br />1/2 cup hot pepper jelly ( I used jalapeno jelly)<br /><br />Combine all three and whip until fluffy.<br />Core out top of cupcakes and pipe filling into the center, replacing the top.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SgC2b4uwpWI/AAAAAAAABbQ/WKt4mS8EAf8/s1600-h/veracruz49.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SgC2b4uwpWI/AAAAAAAABbQ/WKt4mS8EAf8/s200/veracruz49.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332462549007902050" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:180%;" >Avocado buttercream</span><br />(Inspired by Alton Brown and tweaked just a bit)<br /><br />3/4 cup mashed avocado<br />1/4 cup butter<br />2 tsp lime juice<br />zest of one lime<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SgC27rL9mbI/AAAAAAAABbo/dQwPJJu6iwA/s1600-h/veracruz50.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SgC27rL9mbI/AAAAAAAABbo/dQwPJJu6iwA/s200/veracruz50.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332463095128103346" border="0" /></a><br />1 1/2 pounds powdered sugar<br />1 -2 TBS heavy cream<br /><br />Place the avocado and butter into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment along with the lime juice and beat until lightened in color, approximately 2 to 3 minutes. Add the powdered sugar a little at a time and beat until smooth. Add the lime zest and mix to combine. If not using right away, store in the refrigerator.<br /><br />Pipe onto cupcakes. Garnish with a lime wedge and a sprinkle of margarita salt or red salt. Makes 24.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SgC271jdHPI/AAAAAAAABbw/8HUlaHPAMFg/s1600-h/veracruz52.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SgC271jdHPI/AAAAAAAABbw/8HUlaHPAMFg/s200/veracruz52.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332463097910992114" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Overall these are VERY YUMMY! I don't know if I would serve them necessarily as a dessert, but I would have no hesitation serving them along side a grilled main meat dish with the same flavors, like a Salmon Vera Cruz or a grilled Chipotle Chicken. However, a good friend of mine tasted one and said it's totally dessert worthy (but she also happens to not like overly sweet things.) Either way, I will definitely make these again.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SgC1hYuND8I/AAAAAAAABaY/Au6hTbIG40U/s1600-h/veracruz55.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SgC1hYuND8I/AAAAAAAABaY/Au6hTbIG40U/s320/veracruz55.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332461543983222722" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />This is the first entry for this month, I have ideas for one or two more savory cupcakes, so keep your eyes peeled. I'll let you know when the voting opens. The winner of this month gets these great prizes:<br /><br /><ul><li>A sweet cupcake ID bracelet by INSANEJELLYFISH, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5021935"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5021935</span></a></li><li>something sweet and dangly from CHERRYCREEKCHARMS at <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6686445">http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6686445</a>. </li><li>a sweet surprise from Sweet Cuppin' Cakes Cupcakery,<span style="text-decoration: underline;"> </span><a href="http://www.acupcakery.com/">http://www.acupcakery.com/</a><br /></li><li>PLUS, IronCupcake:Earth can not forget our good friend, CAKESPY, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5243382">http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5243382</a>, who is now going to be doing a piece for our winner each month until further notice - <span style="font-style: italic;">sweet!</span></li></ul>Last and certainly not least, don’t forget our corporate prize providers: HEAD CHEFS by FIESTA PRODUCTS, <a href="http://www.fiestaproducts.com/">http://www.fiestaproducts.com</a>, HELLO CUPCAKE by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson, <a href="http://blog.hellocupcakebook.com/">http://blog.hellocupcakebook.com</a>, JESSIE STEELE APRONS <a href="http://www.jessiesteele.com/">http://www.jessiesteele.com</a>; TASTE OF HOME books, <a href="http://www.tasteofhome.com/">http://www.tasteofhome.com</a>; a t-shirt from UPWITHCUPCAKES.COM <a href="http://www.upwithcupcakes.com/">http://www.upwithcupcakes.com/</a>. Iron Cupcake:Earth is sponsored in part by 1-800-Flowers, <a href="http://www.1800flowers.com/">http://www.1800flowers.com</a> .<br /><br /><br />The cupcake ID bracelet is insanely adorable and of course I've been coveting a Jesse Steele apron for as long as I can remember. So when the time comes, vote!Vanessa Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00637156896992275893noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364621295103207439.post-87019842352364378452009-05-05T11:31:00.000-07:002009-05-05T11:34:59.255-07:00Results<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SgCGjMHvpzI/AAAAAAAABaQ/Sno0j0cMqy4/s1600-h/spaceball.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 1px; height: 1px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SgCGjMHvpzI/AAAAAAAABaQ/Sno0j0cMqy4/s320/spaceball.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332409897913919282" border="0" /></a><br />Congrats to <a href="http://cocobeanandme.blogspot.com/2009/04/cherry-coke-float-cupcakes-iron-cupcake.html">Coco Bean</a> for their winning entry in Iron Cupcake: Soda Pop!<br /><br /><br />and thanks to everyone who voted for me! I'm working on my first savory entry for this month and hope to post it later today. Here's your hint: Cinco de Mayo anyone?Vanessa Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00637156896992275893noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364621295103207439.post-42366923131363262202009-04-27T18:00:00.000-07:002009-04-27T18:04:32.215-07:00LET THE VOTE BEGIN!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SfZWGtah7qI/AAAAAAAABaI/srLbotFYduo/s1600-h/sodapop23.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SfZWGtah7qI/AAAAAAAABaI/srLbotFYduo/s320/sodapop23.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329541882309635746" border="0" /></a><br />Hey Everyone!<br /><br />Voting is open for the Iron Cupcake Competition this month! You can vote for up to three entries and it just so happens I made three cupcakes for this month's theme! So vote for one, two, or if you really love me, all three!<br />Click on the iron cupcake icon to the right ------------------------------>>>>><br /><br /><br />Scroll down and I'm the last three entries on the right. Click them, hit vote and sit back!<br />Thanks so much for your support!<br /><br /><br />Oh yeah, and next month's theme is a SAVORY (think salty and spicy and not so sweet) cupcake, so if you have any requests, leave them here!Vanessa Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00637156896992275893noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364621295103207439.post-38885283482394050752009-04-23T18:13:00.000-07:002009-04-24T00:35:15.568-07:00Iron Cupcake April: Soda POP!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SfFqOMPnwBI/AAAAAAAABZ4/yS9SX08Gbfw/s1600-h/sodapop25.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SfFqOMPnwBI/AAAAAAAABZ4/yS9SX08Gbfw/s200/sodapop25.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328156626193465362" border="0" /></a><br />Okay, I'm warning you now. I went a little nuts this month. There's just something about soda pop in a cupcake that gets me all giddy. I think I finally figured out that fizzy soda pop drinks remind me of how much fun I had as a kid and cupcakes do that same thing for me now, so put together, it's a very deadly combination. I had about seven different flavor combinations in mind, but finally settled on three. In fact, they were the first three I thought of when the ingredient was announced and so I went with my gut. I know they aren't super original flavors, but to me, they are the epitome of soda pop as a kid.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SfFSwKm-FPI/AAAAAAAABYY/M0Cpq4XGDAM/s1600-h/sodapop13.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SfFSwKm-FPI/AAAAAAAABYY/M0Cpq4XGDAM/s200/sodapop13.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328130821591012594" border="0" /></a>The very first one I thought of was a Shirley Temple cupcake. I KNEW I had to do this one.<br /><br />For those of you who don't know what a Shirley Temple is (and I can't imagine there are very many of you) it's a virgin cocktail made with Seven Up, grenadine and maraschino cherries. I loved them as a child and always felt so special when I got to order one when we went out to eat. The fizzy pink drink and cherries with stems seriously just makes me happy. I've passed on my love of this drink to Sydney. She couldn't wait to taste these cupcakes! I give you fair warning: much like the kiddie cocktail it's fashioned after, these cupcakes are SWEET! However, I think its just right. When I bit into one, a wave of childhood memories came flooding back.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shirley Temple Cupcake</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SfFRNqJwygI/AAAAAAAABYI/_C2kojRHT-E/s1600-h/sodapop11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 161px; height: 210px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SfFRNqJwygI/AAAAAAAABYI/_C2kojRHT-E/s320/sodapop11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328129129251392002" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>1 c. butter<br />2 c. sugar<br />4 eggs<br />About 4 c. sifted all-purpose flour<br />1 tsp. vanilla<br />1/2 tsp. baking soda<br />1 c. lemon lime soda (left out so it will get flat)<br />1/4 c. grenadine<br />30 maraschino cherries<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SfFQwMSUwmI/AAAAAAAABYA/njYcXCEEHGk/s1600-h/sodapop03.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SfFQwMSUwmI/AAAAAAAABYA/njYcXCEEHGk/s200/sodapop03.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328128623018033762" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Cream butter and sugar until well blended. Add eggs one at a time and beat well. Sift flour and baking soda. Add to mixture alternately with lemon lime soda and grenadine. Add vanilla. Pour into cupcake liners. Place one maraschino cherry in the middle of each cupcake on top of the batter. and bake at 350 degrees for 22-25 minutes. Cherry will sink down during baking and be a nice little surprise at the bottom of each cupcake.<br /><br />I topped the cupcake off with a maraschino cherry buttercream.<br /><br />1 cup butter<br />4 cups powdered sugar<br />1/4 cup pureed maraschino cherries<br />2 TBS maraschino cherry juice<br /><br />Whip butter. Add powdered sugar and cherry juice alternately. Mix in pureed cherries. Whip for 3 minutes and pipe onto cupcakes. Garnish with a maraschino cherry with stem.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SfFScM8klsI/AAAAAAAABYQ/ulCOdhJ2qT4/s1600-h/sodapop28.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SfFScM8klsI/AAAAAAAABYQ/ulCOdhJ2qT4/s400/sodapop28.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328130478621103810" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Next to make it's soda cupcake debut in the Contessa kitchen was the Orange Creme Cupcake. I didn't really plan to do this one, but I just couldn't let it go. Finally, I just decided to go for it. Oh man, I'm so glad I did. These cupcakes are smooth and refreshing and light and taste just like a bottle of orange creme soda. These were by far the favorite of the Evil Genius.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Orange Creme Soda Cupcakes</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SfFU2fWgMYI/AAAAAAAABYg/QeGB_uYcGto/s1600-h/sodapop04.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 204px; height: 304px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SfFU2fWgMYI/AAAAAAAABYg/QeGB_uYcGto/s320/sodapop04.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328133129261560194" border="0" /></a><br /><br />1 c. butter<br />2 c. sugar<br />4 eggs<br />About 4 c. sifted all-purpose flour<br />1 tsp. vanilla<br />1/2 tsp. baking soda<br />1 bottle of Boylan's Orange soda (my favorite)<br />1 TBS fresh orange zest<br /><br /><br />Cream butter and sugar until well blended. Add eggs one at a time and beat well. Sift flour and baking soda. Add to mixture alternately with orange soda. Add vanilla. Pour into cupcake liners. and bake at 350 degrees for 22-25 minutes. Cool completely.<br /><br />Now, at this point I was going to fill the cupcake with whipped cream and make a fancy glaze and all kinds of super neat-o cupcake magic. But, after tasting the cupcake at this point, I knew it would be a shame. It tasted so close to the soda, I wanted to keep it simple, so I made a very simple orange buttercream and topped the little masterpiece off with an orange candy slice.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SfFXSuiRpkI/AAAAAAAABYo/dcZ-q5RlBr0/s1600-h/sodapop19.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SfFXSuiRpkI/AAAAAAAABYo/dcZ-q5RlBr0/s200/sodapop19.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328135813397063234" border="0" /></a>1 cup butter<br />4 cups powdered sugar<br />1/4 cup fresh orange juice<br />1 TBS orange zest<br />1 tsp vanilla<br /><br />Whip butter. Add powdered sugar and orange juice alternately. Add zest and vanilla. Whip for 3 minutes and pipe onto cupcakes. Garnish with an orange candy.<br /><br />These were by far, Vivie's favorite, particuarly the frosting....<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SfFXvG5oMDI/AAAAAAAABYw/jyuwYwZLWB4/s1600-h/sodapop06.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SfFXvG5oMDI/AAAAAAAABYw/jyuwYwZLWB4/s200/sodapop06.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328136300973797426" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SfFXvHCEupI/AAAAAAAABY4/6RordW3tUT4/s1600-h/sodapop07.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SfFXvHCEupI/AAAAAAAABY4/6RordW3tUT4/s200/sodapop07.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328136301009222290" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SfFXvTSzVmI/AAAAAAAABZA/6EBfYqpaSVg/s1600-h/sodapop08.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SfFXvTSzVmI/AAAAAAAABZA/6EBfYqpaSVg/s200/sodapop08.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328136304300611170" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SfFXvhdDNFI/AAAAAAAABZI/Am1Qoir7NAo/s1600-h/sodapop09.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SfFXvhdDNFI/AAAAAAAABZI/Am1Qoir7NAo/s200/sodapop09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328136308101690450" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Whatcha doin' there Vivie?<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SfFYY2O_lFI/AAAAAAAABZQ/gioqX-lZPwo/s1600-h/sodapop23.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SfFYY2O_lFI/AAAAAAAABZQ/gioqX-lZPwo/s400/sodapop23.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328137018054513746" border="0" /></a></div></div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span><span>Finally, to round out this Soda Pop trifecta of awesomeness, I absolutely had to do a root beer float cupcake. My husband would never have forgiven me if i hadn't. I had a really hard time with this one. Mainly because I couldn't find root beer extract anywhere to save my life! Of </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SfFkQztXJzI/AAAAAAAABZY/F2Guq0mnBPk/s1600-h/sodapop05.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SfFkQztXJzI/AAAAAAAABZY/F2Guq0mnBPk/s320/sodapop05.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328150074077161266" border="0" /></a><span>course I waited too long to order in online and I had to come up with a new way to concentrate the root beer flavor down. I ended up deciding to just reduce a root beer down on the stove in a saucepan. This worked surprisingly well HOWEVER you need to use a root beer made with pure cane sugar, not high fructose corn syrup. I made that mistake buying my favorite root beer flavor, only to realize it just wasn't going to reduce down well. I ended up finding a terrific tasting and inexpensive root beer that's perfect for the recipe. Check out Hansen's Natural Creamy Root Beer. Next, I didn't want the topping to be heavy, I wanted it to be light and foamy like the top of a real float. I finally decided that the best way to achieve this for what I wanted was to make a whipped cream topping. I wanted it to have a nice smooth flavor, so I added a scraped vanilla bean to it. To give the cupcake an extra gooey root beer punch, I concocted a root beer pudding for the middle. I think this recipe will be even better if you add a tsp of <a href="http://www.mccormickgourmet.com/productdetail.cfm?id=6033">root beer concentrate</a> to the batter.<br /><br />So, here's my take on the root beer float.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Root Beer Float Cupcake<br /><br /></span>1 c. butter<br />2 c. sugar<br />4 eggs<br />About 4 c. sifted all-purpose flour<br />1/2 tsp. baking soda<br />1 cup of reduced root beer**<br /><br />**To make the reduced root beer, empty about 5 or 6 cans of a cane juice based root beer into a sauce pan and slowly bring to a boil. Simmer root beer for about 30 minutes, stirring frequently until the liquid is reduced by about 3/4.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SfFlr-_FhmI/AAAAAAAABZg/VaLs0O4JODA/s1600-h/sodapop15.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SfFlr-_FhmI/AAAAAAAABZg/VaLs0O4JODA/s200/sodapop15.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328151640472389218" border="0" /></a>Cream butter and sugar until well blended. Add eggs one at a time and beat well. Sift flour and baking soda. Add to mixture alternately with reduced root beer. Pour into cupcake liners and bake at 350 degrees for 22-25 minutes. Cool completely.<br /><br />At this point, time to make the filling. This is a very jelly like pudding and can easily be skipped. I just wanted to give it another texture and add a bit more root beer flavor.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Root Beer Pudding (I know it sounds weird, just go with it..)<br /><br />2 cans root beer<br />3 TBS sugar<br />4 TBS cornstarch<br />2 TBS butter<br />1/2 cup cream<br /><br />Empty one can of root beer into small saucepan. Add sugar and boil together for about 10 minutes until liquid is reduced in half. Open other can of root beer. Use about 1/4 of it to mix with cornstarch in separate bowl. Reduce heat on saucepan and add butter. When butter is melted, pour in cornstarch/root beer mixture while wisking at the same time. Continue <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SfFnijj5mbI/AAAAAAAABZo/vyDjZ5dBwzQ/s1600-h/sodapop20.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SfFnijj5mbI/AAAAAAAABZo/vyDjZ5dBwzQ/s200/sodapop20.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328153677515037106" border="0" /></a>whisking. It will become very thick like taffy. Alternate adding cream and remaning root beer while whisking until a good piping consisitency is reached. Cool. Using a filler tip, pipe INTO cupcakes. In case you are wondering, THIS is what a filling tip looks like.<br /><br />Now, I just want to stop really quick here and point something out. You may have noticed that every single one of my cupcakes for this month start with the same batter basics. It's a very simple vanilla cupcake recipe. They have just each been tweaked to accomodate the flavors I am trying to create. I just wanted to point this out because I have had a lot of friends ask how I come up with recipes. I usually just explain that it's all give and take. If you have a basic set of parameters, then you can experiment within those. For example, every cake needs to have certain properties, flour, sugar, eggs, butter, liquid, a rising agent... but within those I can try something new. In this instance, because we are dealing with soda pop, I have mainly substituted the liquids. Now, this doesn't work every time, but a lot of times it will. So, when you look at a recipe, start dicsecting it and figuring out what could possibly be exchanged. That's an easy way to start experimenting with baking and trying something new!<br /><br />I digress... On to my topping.<br /><br />Whipped Cream Vanilla Bean Frosting<br /><br /><div style="padding-left: 20px; color: BLACK;">1 c. Heavy Cream (the good stuff!)<br />2 tbsp. cornstarch<br />1 vanilla bean, scraped<br />1/2 c. butter<br />1 c. confectioners sugar<br />1 tsp. vanilla<br /><br /></div>Blend cream, vanilla bean and cornstarch in small saucepan. Cook and stir over low heat until thickened. Remove vanilla bean. Chill thoroughly. Cream butterand sugar in a chilled bowl. Beat in chilled paste and vanilla. Beat at high speed until mixture resembles whipped cream.<br /><br />Top the cupcakes with a big dollop of whipped cream and you're set!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SfFqFkfdtXI/AAAAAAAABZw/lvhHvhj4TZ0/s1600-h/sodapop24.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SfFqFkfdtXI/AAAAAAAABZw/lvhHvhj4TZ0/s400/sodapop24.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328156478083544434" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span>There you go, my three takes on the soda pop cupcake. I hope you like them. Once again, I would love if you voted for me. You can vote for up to three entries at a time, so vote for all three of mine, or if you're not a fan of all of them, vote for the one you like the best and then check out the other entries and share the love. The voting opens on April 29th and runs through May 4th. I'll make sure to remind you all when the voting opens!</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Just a reminder, here's the awesome list of prizes I'm competing for:<br /><br /></span><blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;">Our April ETSY PRIZE-PACK is from artists:</span><br /><ul><li>A creation by FRUITFLYPIE, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=16748">http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=16748</a></li><li>a pair of cupcake earrings from LOTS OF SPRINKLES at <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6057281">http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6057281</a>. </li><li>a sweet surprise from Sweet Cuppin' Cakes Cupcakery,<span style="text-decoration: underline;"> </span><a href="http://www.acupcakery.com/">http://www.acupcakery.com/</a><br /></li><li>PLUS, IronCupcake:Earth can not forget our good friend, CAKESPY, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5243382">http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5243382</a>, who is now going to be doing a piece for our winner each month until further notice - <span style="font-style: italic;">sweet!</span></li></ul>Last and certainly not least, don’t forget our corporate prize providers: HEAD CHEFS by FIESTA PRODUCTS, <a href="http://www.fiestaproducts.com/">http://www.fiestaproducts.com</a>, HELLO CUPCAKE by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson, <a href="http://blog.hellocupcakebook.com/">http://blog.hellocupcakebook.com</a>, JESSIE STEELE APRONS <a href="http://www.jessiesteele.com/">http://www.jessiesteele.com</a>; TASTE OF HOME books, <a href="http://www.tasteofhome.com/">http://www.tasteofhome.com</a>; a t-shirt from UPWITHCUPCAKES.COM <a href="http://www.upwithcupcakes.com/">http://www.upwithcupcakes.com/</a>. Iron Cupcake:Earth is sponsored in part by 1-800-Flowers, <a href="http://www.1800flowers.com/">http://www.1800flowers.com</a> . <span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5599270"><br /></a></blockquote><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SfFrendintI/AAAAAAAABaA/rFQ1vi3THPU/s1600-h/sodapop07.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SfFrendintI/AAAAAAAABaA/rFQ1vi3THPU/s200/sodapop07.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328158007889141458" border="0" /></a>Don't forget, she REALLY wants mommy to win...<br /></div>Vanessa Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00637156896992275893noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364621295103207439.post-50998222760821464132009-04-23T00:52:00.000-07:002009-04-23T01:16:59.541-07:00More signs of an Evil Genius<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SfAfjTVWo-I/AAAAAAAABXw/2kADEqW2kgI/s1600-h/EvilGenius.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SfAfjTVWo-I/AAAAAAAABXw/2kADEqW2kgI/s320/EvilGenius.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327793050525017058" border="0" /></a><br /><br />For those of you who do not know, my daughter is an evil genius. No, she really is. We call her the Evil Genius. My friends call her the Evil Genius. People who aren't even really my friends but know her for some reason call her the Evil Genius. If you are still not convinced, refer to my <a href="http://vanessacontessa.blogspot.com/2008/08/evil-genius.html">original Evil Genius post</a>. Recently a few more personality characteristics have come to light only showing how much evilish geniusing is really going on. <br /><br /><ul><li>Apparently at nursery, her favorite game to play is "hide behind the play kitchen and wait patiently for another child to come up to it and then push it over on them and laugh really hard." This game is only made worse by the fact that she is quite literally the size of a large peanut and can easily fool other children because they can't even see her behind the large toy. <br /></li></ul><ul><li>She loves to hide things from her loved ones. Once she hid a very small key to a music box I had given my mother and after we searched the entire house for it and said "Where's the key Vivie?" she immediately laughed, ran away and then magically appeared back in the kitchen again with they key in hand 30 seconds later. We still have zero clue as to where she stashed the key for an hour. </li></ul><ul><li>This child is freakishly good at hide and seek. Particularly the hiding part. She finds places in this house I never knew someone could hide she can hold still and be silent while hiding like no normal two year old should be able to. I am convinced she is training herself now for all the times she will need to go on the lamb doing all of her evil genius deeds. <br /></li></ul><ul><li>I am currently in a conundrum as to what to do this Friday night. You see, I'm SUPPOSED to go out with all of my girlfriends to this great Italian restaurant down the street, but I'm terrified of showing my face there because two nights ago we were at the very same restaurant and Vivie (knowing full well I was wearing my wedge sandals and could not chase her like a gazelle) RAN STRAIGHT INTO THE KITCHEN and of course LAUGHED REALLY LOUD and of course WOULDN'T COME OUT. They told me if she did it again they'd put her to work, but I'm pretty sure they meant if she did it again, we'd be asked to leave. Hence you see my problem. Evil geniuses love to put people in uncomfortable situations. </li></ul><ul><li>Finally, this evening while saying her goodnight prayers, she mentioned her big sister. Now this may seem non evil geniusy and very sweet but NOT IF YOU ARE PRAYING THAT YOUR BIG SISTER GETS IN BIG TROUBLE. Yes, you read that right. In the middle of prayer (in between asking for world domination and secret lairs of course) my darling sweet two year old asked "please bless Sydney get big trouble." <br /></li></ul><br />Seriously people, we have a problem.Vanessa Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00637156896992275893noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364621295103207439.post-80150694816474222322009-04-16T12:00:00.000-07:002009-04-16T12:39:28.484-07:00A letter of apologyDear Coconut,<br /><br />I'm sorry for all of the horrible things I've said about you over the years. When I said I didn't like you, I was young and naive and didn't understand your complexities and sophistication. I have seen the error of my ways. I have renounced my childish ways and vow to never slander your good name from here on out. I now see that I can no longer deny you attention in my kitchen, especially because you are such dear friends with my long time love, dark chocolate. Can you ever forgive me, coconut? Is here hope for us, yet?<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/Sdt7bt30WMI/AAAAAAAABXQ/gB6ObMuPG3w/s1600-h/chocolatecoconut.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/Sdt7bt30WMI/AAAAAAAABXQ/gB6ObMuPG3w/s400/chocolatecoconut.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321983100768770242" border="0" /></a>DARK CHOCOLATE CHIP COCONUT CUPCAKES<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />This <a href="http://www.bakespace.com/recipes/detail/Hershey%27s-Dark-Chocolate-Cupcakes/8273/">Dark Chocolate cupcake batter</a> OR the following:<br /><br />1 box of dark chocolate fudge cake mix (and ingredients to make it)<br />1 cup mini chocolate chips<br />1 tsp vanilla<br />2 TBS cocoa<br /><br />Either make the batter I have linked or mix the cake mix, ingredients listed on the box, chocolate chips, vanilla and cocoa. Mix for 2 minutes. Line muffin cups with cupcake liners. Fill liners 2/3 full and bake at 350 for 20-22 minutes. Cool completely.<br /><br />1 cup butter<br />4 cups powdered sugar<br />1/2 cup coconut milk<br />1/2 tsp vanilla<br />3 cups shredded sweetened coconut<br /><br /><br />In a small saucepan, heat coconut milk to a simmer and stir constantly. Reduce coconut milk by half. Set aside and let cool. With your whipping attachment, whip butter. Add vanilla. Add powdered sugar one cup at a time, alternating with cooled coconut milk. When combined, whip for 3-4 minutes on high. If frosting is too soft to pipe, add powdered sugar 1/4 cup at at time until right consistency is reached. If too stiff, add 1 TBS milk until reached.<br /><br />Pipe onto cupcakes and take handfuls of coconut and press into still wet, soft frosting. Allow a few minutes for frosting to set, serve, and take back everything you ever said about coconut.<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>Vanessa Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00637156896992275893noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364621295103207439.post-39858421640814336952009-04-15T16:14:00.000-07:002009-04-15T16:38:27.388-07:00Suck it, Simon Cowell!Have you see this yet? Have you?! Watch it now, and watch the whole thing. It's 7 minutes long, so get cozy, but seriously, you will NOT be expecting THIS! I can't put it up here, so just click on the link and follow to YouTube.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY</a><br /><br /><br /><br />The singer's name is Susan Boyle and her story is something amazing as well. <a href="http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/30226936/">Here's also an article about her</a>, read the bottom as to why she hasn't been able to follow her dream of singing until now, it will melt your heart. Congratulations, Susan for never giving up on a dream. You are inspiring! I'll buy your album the day it comes out.Vanessa Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00637156896992275893noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364621295103207439.post-22401485002646155772009-04-13T19:03:00.001-07:002009-04-13T19:09:43.150-07:00Time to Stock UpFor the last month, these little babies have been my reason for living....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SePv-9J8lwI/AAAAAAAABXg/JNAjD2PJSoU/s1600-h/IMG_2772.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SePv-9J8lwI/AAAAAAAABXg/JNAjD2PJSoU/s400/IMG_2772.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324363049329268482" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Yes, I'm talking about the Orange Creme Cadbury Egg. Not just the regular Cadbury Egg, the Orange Creme ones. They are the awesome creamy milk chocolate of the traditional egg, but the inside is not the fondant from before. Instead it's a sweet and tangy orange flavored filling that I'm pretty sure must be made out of crack cocaine because they are probably the most addicting candy I've come across yet (and let's face it, I know my chocolate.)<br /><br />Needless to say I'm a little distressed by the fact that Easter is now over and I won't see them again for another 11 months. So, if you see any on candy closeout, you better tell me. And you better give them all to me, too, because I don't like to share.Vanessa Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00637156896992275893noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364621295103207439.post-30193390059139726982009-04-07T14:21:00.000-07:002009-04-07T14:23:50.322-07:00Career choices.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SdvEM-tKKAI/AAAAAAAABXY/5-gaYD1x9vc/s1600-h/sydneycutiebw.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SdvEM-tKKAI/AAAAAAAABXY/5-gaYD1x9vc/s320/sydneycutiebw.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322063111938254850" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Today Sydney informed me of this:<br /><br /><br />"I've decided that when I grow up, I want to be a mom. And.... if I can't be a mom, then I want to be a movie star."<br /><br /><br />Nice.Vanessa Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00637156896992275893noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364621295103207439.post-43541399333304948992009-04-06T09:26:00.000-07:002009-04-06T09:43:25.912-07:00The winner is......not me.<br /><br />That's okay. I'm thrilled to say the the winner is my new blogging friend <a href="http://snookydoodlecakes.blogspot.com/">Snooky Doodle!</a><br /><br />She made a fantastic cupcake and I voted for it a few times, so I'm so glad she won!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/Sdot7VSETQI/AAAAAAAABXI/hifFNcWMGXU/s1600-h/nuts_winner.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 234px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/Sdot7VSETQI/AAAAAAAABXI/hifFNcWMGXU/s320/nuts_winner.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321616407040118018" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Now, I'm sure a few of you who have voted for me in the past and are always supportive of my Iron Cupcake entries are probably a bit confused. I know most of you followed it pretty closely this time and I had the largest surge of support ever this round! For most of the voting period, the cupcake with the most votes seemed to be jumping between me and another competitor. Now, as of the beginning of 2009, there is a new way they pick the winner and I was unaware of this because I did not compete in January and February. From now on out, for every vote you receive, your name gets put into a number pool and at the end of the week, they pick a number using a random integer generator. That number picked is the person who wins the prize pack. <br />So, the more votes you have, the better chance you have of winning the prize pack, but there's no guarantee. <br /><br />Now, of course there's good and bad things about this new voting rules, but overall I think it's good. I'm happy. As some of you know, I wasn't thrilled with the way it was before because unless you were a heavy hitter in the blogosphere, you had no chance whatsoever. I think this is a good way to do it. The other great thing is that you can vote for up to 3 cupcakes and the more entries you have the better your chances! Perfect, because I'm already working on several ideas for this month. <br /><br />Finally, I just want to say thank you to everyone who went to vote, got their friends to vote, made their husbands vote, made their husbands to tell their friends to vote, went to work and bribed and threatened votes out of coworkers, peddled votes on facebook.... it could go on and on. You guys are awesome! <br /><br />Once again, congrats to Snooky Doodle and her Almond Lemon Anise Seed Cupcake!!<br /><br />Thanks so much and if you have any special requests for this month's theme of Soda Pop, let them be heard!Vanessa Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00637156896992275893noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364621295103207439.post-53202217938542227682009-04-04T18:52:00.000-07:002009-04-04T19:36:25.046-07:00CarwashSo, this morning I left my husband in charge of the girls while I went to do a portrait shoot. I was gone for an hour and a half. When I came back, this is what greeted me outside on our corner lot on a very high traffic Saturday morning...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SdgPeQ1YtiI/AAAAAAAABWY/DdPOVft9ufs/s1600-h/carwash010.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SdgPeQ1YtiI/AAAAAAAABWY/DdPOVft9ufs/s400/carwash010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321019972327618082" border="0" /></a><br />Yes, that's my two year old daughter (in nothing but her diaper) helping wash the car. Not a stitch of clothes in sight. Two feet away was her Daddy, completely aware that his daughter was now the official redneck mascot of the block. Here's the conversation that immediately occured:<br /><br />"REALLY?!"<br /><br />"What?"<br /><br />"You couldn't put any clothes on her?"<br /><br />"Why?"<br /><br />"Did you really just ask me why?"<br /><br />"What's the big deal?"<br /><br />"Have you looked at your daughter?"<br /><br />"Yeah? She's fine."<br /><br />"Whatever, I'll do it myself... VIVIE! Come put clothes on!"<br /><br />{Vivie} "NO! I washing!"<br /><br />"Fine."<br /><br />What's a mom to do except just get out the camera and let her finish?<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SdgR7B6mCJI/AAAAAAAABWg/K5z6GEKtxGo/s1600-h/carwash012.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SdgR7B6mCJI/AAAAAAAABWg/K5z6GEKtxGo/s400/carwash012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321022665562392722" border="0" /></a>That's good Viv, a little to the left.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SdgR7w3GIEI/AAAAAAAABW4/pq7WXETNNuU/s1600-h/carwash020.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SdgR7w3GIEI/AAAAAAAABW4/pq7WXETNNuU/s400/carwash020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321022678164185154" border="0" /></a>Move on to Mom's car now.. Oh, you're going to use the brush? Okay, good job!<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SdgR7t-u6RI/AAAAAAAABWw/JG0jy0eMEnE/s1600-h/carwash014.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SdgR7t-u6RI/AAAAAAAABWw/JG0jy0eMEnE/s400/carwash014.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321022677390911762" border="0" /></a>Yes, your a very big girl, are you ready for some clothes now? Yes, I see you have a big brush, that's awesome! Can we go put some clothes on? How about a dress?<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SdgR7zZtGUI/AAAAAAAABXA/OxnXcWgz5s0/s1600-h/carwash022.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SdgR7zZtGUI/AAAAAAAABXA/OxnXcWgz5s0/s400/carwash022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321022678846216514" border="0" /></a>Good Viv, don't forget the back. Yes, move closer to the end of the driveway where more people can see you, that would be great. Oh, don't mind that car, it was just our HOA president. Wave hello to the nice man who's probably calling Child Services right now! Okay are you done? Are you ready for some clothes? Fine, I'll just go get a dress, and bring it out here....<br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span>Vanessa Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00637156896992275893noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1364621295103207439.post-86516307351401528882009-04-02T10:40:00.000-07:002009-04-02T10:44:39.422-07:00Rock the Vote!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.ironcupcakemilwaukee.com"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 65px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZWpz9odXjmc/SdT5Rmrp8oI/AAAAAAAABWI/TfTgpRyFQ2Y/s320/ICEarth_badge.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320151140668142210" border="0" /></a><br />24 more hours to vote for my cupcake. I'm in the lead right now, but it keeps jumping between me and another contestant! If you haven't yet, vote for me or spread the word on your blog! For a little extra incentive:<br /><br />If you are one of my local friends and I win, I'm going to celebrate with a cupcake party!! So spread the word, link it, post it on your blog! Rock the vote!<br /><br />Thanks!Vanessa Contessahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00637156896992275893noreply@blogger.com9